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RUTH 1:19-21
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
HEBREWS 12:15
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
REFERENCES: EXODUS 15:22-25; PSALM 34:18, 147:3; MALACHI 4:5-6; JOHN 14:6-7, 18
Just change my name and call me Bitter. The troubles of the past have left me brokenhearted and I’m in total heartache for what seems to be just out of reach. That was the sentiment Naomi shared as she entered her hometown. On some level, while you probably didn’t have to travel from a foreign land, maybe you can relate. But, the world has lied to us that being bitter is OK if you have a reason or have been wronged. In this journey called life we get hurt or offended and often don’t deal with it, allowing bitterness to overtake us. God wants to heal us from our heartaches and heartbreaks that lead to becoming bitter. Your heavenly Father longs to have a relationship with you and heal you from all your heartaches and wounds. Even if you’re heartbroken, God can restore all the pieces. Don’t live a life in bitterness when you have a Father in heaven who is longing to give you joy and a future.
God can heal your broken heart but you have to give Him all the pieces
Heartache is felt when we long for something but never receive it. This can develop as early as childhood and we end up spending our adult life trying to fill that void. It isn’t uncommon for our view of God to act as a projection or rejection of our earthly fathers. But as we develop our relationship with Christ, his love heals our wounds through acceptance and grace. He leads us to the Father who declares that we are worthy.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” —John 14:6-7
Whenever we lose an important relationship, we experience heartbreak. Whether we admit it or not, our brains and our bodies will register the loss as deeply painful. Thankfully, God has promised to be near us in our heartbreak so that He can heal the pain. Just as a broken bone needs time in a cast, your heart needs time to heal. Our part is to trust the work that God is doing.
Whether you are going through heartache or heartbreak, God is there with you. He wants to heal and restore the broken pieces of your heart. Maybe you’ve become bitter in the process, but when you add what Jesus did on the cross to the equation, that bitter season can turn into a sweet one. After you allow Him to heal your heart, you’ll want a relationship without needing one. You’ll see not just the mistakes of others, but you’ll acknowledge your own and learn from them. You’ll talk about that past situation with emotional control. And you’ll finally feel free to celebrate the happiness of others and look forward to the future God has for your life.
Take some time in the next week to reflect on any bitterness that may be in your life. Ask God to show you who, or what about yourself, you need to forgive.
If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.We would love to come around you for the following life events:
+ Marriages
+ Births
+ Deaths
+ Hospitalizations/Illness
Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare
Saying yes to Jesus marks a brand new beginning. Baptism is your next step. It's how you go public with your faith and celebrate the new life God has given you. The past is behind you, and a fresh future is ahead. This is your moment. We are having baptisms this Sunday, July 27th, across all of our locations, and on the beach.
To sign up for baptisms, please click here.
This back-to-school season, we have the opportunity to show up for our city in a meaningful way. On Saturday, August 2, we’re hosting a Back to School Bash at the Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center, located inside Charles Hadley Park. It’s a chance to serve local families by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and making sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to start the year with confidence.
Donate - Fill backpacks for families in need for the school year. You can purchase supplies locally and bring to a VOUS Location or donate online.
Serve - Help host our annual Back To School Bash for families in our community — distribute backpacks, check-in guests, and serve our city during a morning of fun and games.
When: Saturday, August 2nd
Where: Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center
Address: 4900 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Team Rally: 10:20AM
Starting Sunday, August 3rd, we will be moving to brand new service times at all of our locations!
VOUS SoMi
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
VOUS Design District
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
The countdown is on! If you're ready to take your next step in ministry, leadership, or higher education, now is the time to apply. VOUS College application deadline is July 31st for both our degree-seeking and leadership programs. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a life-changing semester. Start your journey at vouscollege.com/apply.
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack
